On Wednesday, the Oklahoma House of Representatives debated and passed SB 504, a bill to prohibit child marriage without exceptions, increasing the legal marrying age to 18.
Current state law allows 16- and 17-year-olds to marry if they have their parents’ consent.
Under current law, even children under the age of 16 are allowed to marry if a court approves it due to circumstances such as pregnancy. These exceptions place children at risk of forced or pressured marriages to adults.
The real news here is not that SB 504 passed, but that it was debated. There were actually lawmakers speaking out against it … then voting against it. The argument these legislators put forth is that it would impinge on parental rights.
Scandalously, the vote was not particularly close, passing 51-36. Three dozen Republican lawmakers voted against it. This stands in contrast to the Senate vote last month, in which its passage was unanimous.
For the record, here are the elected representatives who voted against closing the loophole that permits some children to wed:
REPUBLICANS
Chad Caldwell [HD 40]
Josh Cantrell [HD 49]
Rusty Cornwell [HD 6]
Denise Crosswhite Hader [HD 41]
Ryan Eaves [HD 22]
Tom Gann [HD 8]
Jim Grego [HD 17]
Rob Hall [HD 67]
David Hardin [HD 86]
Neil Hays [HD 13]
Derrick Hildebrant [HD 23]
Brian Hill [HD 47]
Justin Humphrey (HD 19 and candidate for lieutenant governor]
Molly Jenkins [HD 33]
Cody Maynard (HD 21]
Carl Newton [HD 58]
Kevin Norwood [HD 74]
Jim Olsen [HD 2]
Kenton Patzkowsky [HD 61]
Eric Roberts [HD 83]
Jim Shaw [HD 32]
David Smith [HD 18]
Clay Staires [HD 66]
Marilyn Stark (HD 100)
Jay Steagall [HD 43]
Danny Sterling (HD 27)
Dillon Travis (HD 35)
Rick West [HD 3]
Jonathon Wilk [HD 20]
Danny Williams [HD 28]
Rande Worthen [HD 64]
DEMOCRATS
None.
Note that these GOP rednecks [a name these votes have earned them] include three women.
All other Republican and Democratic Representatives voted in favor of the bill. Having passed in both chambers, it will now go to the governor’s desk.
